Crimping tool



Aug. 10, 1954 Filed Feb. 17, 1950 J. R. vlcKERY 2,685,897

CRIMPING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Aug. l0, 1954 Filed Feb. 17, 1950 J. R. vlcKl-:RY 2,685,897

CRIMPING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOP ATT RNEYS klocationsk Patented Aug. 1o, 1954 CRIMPIN'G Toor.

John R. Vickery, York, Pa., assigner to Aircraft- Marine Products Inc., Harrisburg, Pa.

Application February 17, 1950, Serial No. 144,657

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to a heavy duty hydraulic power tool and more particularly to an electrically controlled hydraulically powered heavy duty crimping tool assembly supported to permit substantially complete universal movement translationally. and rotatablyfor manual movement into a variety of working positions and locations.

This invention maybe advantageously used in the manufacture oflarge capacity electrical apparatus andthe like. In such manufactureV itis frequently necessary to' apply, for example, heavy duty electrical connections by crimping to heavy cables in' inaccessible locations. It is desirable if such heavy connectorscan be crimped lb'ymoreor` less portable crimping machinery, Ayet the force necessary'satisfactorily to crimp or apply such heavyconnectorsmay require crimping apparatus of such great bulk or weight that itis difl'lcult manually to bring thecrimping apparatus into position for satisfactory use. 1 f In accordancewith the present invention hy- .draulicallypoweredvheavy duty appartus may be constructed .to deliver'adequatelyforceful crimpingp'ressure forfthe application of heavy electrical connectorsl and the like and yet Vsuch heavy duty apparatus maybe supported or suspended in constant tension fashion for ready manual movement intoa varietyfof working positions and locations with substantially complete,1.1ni versal translational and `rotatable and swinging movement. Y f Y, It is av principal object of this invention to provide a heavydutyhydraulic power tool ofthe character described adapted for ready manual "y -movementinto a variety of workingpositions and n A further object of this invention is to provide constant tension'support means for a heavy duty power toolof the character described ,adapted for substantially complete universal translational rotating and swinging movement.

"1A stillzfurtherv object of this invention is to vprovide suspension or support means for a heavy Udutywplo'wer.V tool of .the character described' whereby substantially all` ofV the weight` .of the tool may be pivotallyand rotatably'carried b yvsaid support meansto permit relatively asyfmanual positioning ofthe tool notwithstanding thebulk u or weight thereof. Y' y Still another object of this invention'is to pro- :vizde an electrically controlled heavy'duty hy- (Cl.V L10-113) the same numerals.

'Figure 1 is a perspective viewfin side elevation showing the entire electrically controlled hye'rat-ingy end' of the tool of v.Figure Still a further object of this invention is to provide a heavy duty hydraulically powered crimping tool of the characterv described, the crimping jaws of which are of reduced dimensions to admit of insertion and use into spaces of limited accessibility.

Other objects-and advantages of this invention will vbe apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. t v t In the application of 'heavy electrical connectors to large cables, bus bars and the like in the vmanufacture of heavy duty transformers, etc.,

it is desirable to provide means for fastening such connectors to such heavy cables by crimping theml around the cable. Frequently this crimping operation can most advantageously be done in relatively inaccessible portions of, for example, a large transformer, and it is Vaccordinglyv desirable that such connections be crimped by means of portable crimping apparatus.Y However, thelforce necessary satisfactorily to aocomplish this crimping operation is of such great .magnitude that it may most advantageously be yapplied by very heavy-duty equipment.`

The weight of such crimping or pinchingy apparatus'required yfor such u ses andthe bulk of such apparatus may be sufficiently great as to curtail or preclude manual portability and manipulation of the apparatus. Rigidly supported or Vpermanentlyplaced heavy duty crimping apparatus, however, does not answer the probf Accordingly it is desirable that the crimping apparatusbefreadily adapted for portability and substantially complete universal movement in all directionsV and in all positions and yet so suspended or supported that the operator of ther-apparatus isrelieved-of the necessityv of supporting the heavy- .weight of the crimping apparatus.'

i Reference is now'made to the drawings which :illustrate preferred embodiments of lthis vinvention and in which like parts are designated by "counter-"balancedfashion;v v v igure y2 isa view in elevation fromthef-opported 1upon av movable stand ;v

.1 Shown.4 S1119.-

As shown in Figure 1 apparatus embodying this invention consists generally of hydraulically operated, pressure applying crimping jaws III pivotally mounted on a carri-age tt which isii'eely rotatable within a circular race orV ring t2'.l The circular race I2 may be suspended by a ,flexible connection from counter-balancing means indicated conventionally in the drawing as a cable I3 passing over pulleys I4 to counter-balancing weights I5.,y or by an arm stand on casters, etc. Suitable hydraulic fluid is supplied under pressure to the crimping assembly by a pump assembly indicated diagramma-tically at I5 andv flexibly connected with the crimping assembly by suitable flexible fluid supply line I1. Handles I8 are mounted on the crimping assembly for manual swinging movement of the jaws I0' with respect to the carriage II or for manual rotational movement of carriage II within race. I2 or for transitional movement of the entire crimping assembly ,and itsv mounting by virtue of the ilexible` support means I 3.y The operation of thetool is controlled by remote control means, describedv in detail hereinafter, mounted on the crimping assembly and connected to the pumping assembly by suitable wires, not shown.

The crimping assembly includes a pair of levers which provide coacting jaws I0 pivoted together at' 25 for movement to and away from each other. The outer ends 26 of the jaws I0 project beyond i. e., forwardly from the ringl I2 and are reduced in width as shown for ready insertion into spaces of limited size. The forward ends 26 of the jaws I0 carry crimping dies 21 adapted for the desired crimping of an electrical connector o r Vother object' placed therebetween. The dies 21 may conveniently be pivotally mounted between the Vends 26 of the jaws I0 so that they may be rotated within the jaws I0 'to' receive, for instance, an

electrical cable which may be either perpendicular to the jaws IB or aligned therewith. Y

Between the opposite orrear'wardly ends 33 of the jaws Ill and connected therewith is an hydraulic cylinder-and=piston motor comprising cylinder 3| and piston 32 arranged so that the introduction of hydraulic fluid into the cylinder 3| `the forward ends f the jaws IU to be forced into closing relation. Counteracting the force of the hydraulic piston 32 and spring means 34 which b'ias the forward ends 26 of the jaws III toward open position by forcing the rearward ends of the jaws In and the rpiston 32 toward eachother when the pressure of hydraulic fluid on piston 32 is released.

The crimping assembly, including the jaws IU and the cylinder and piston motor 3|, 32, is pivotally mounted upon the carriage I I for swinging movement with respect thereto. Carriage II may have a T shape as shown inthe drawing,- being Acomposed of perpendicular structural members each with a rollerat its end. The crimping assembly is mounted on` the carriage 4-bymeans of the leg or post 40 thereof passing through the parallel longitudinally extending slots 42, Figure 3, in the forward end portions of bifurcated frame pieces 4|. These frame pieces 4| which are connected at their rearward ends to form in eiect a rocking bracket also carry pivot 25 of the jaws I0 so that the crimping assembly may be mounted substantially at its center of gravity on carriage If yet the pivot 25 along the 'center line of the jaws I0 'will remain stationary mth respect to the handles I8 during crimping or clamping movement of the jaws relative to each other. Frame pieces 4| also carry suitable handles I8 for manipulation of the crimping assembly and its mounting.V

'iEl-iev T-shaped carriage carries at its three extreme points rollers 50, which in this case are standard ball bearing assemblies to provide free rotation of the carriage within the circular groove or race 5| in the'outer ring I2.

Hydraulic duid may conveniently be supplied to the cylinder 3| for workA against. the piston 32 by a suitable pumping assembly I6 through flexible supply line I1l and connections I1 and I1 to inlet 33 incylinder 3|. Such pumping assembly I 6 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 6. The pumping assembly may include a suitable pump B0, driven by any suitable means such. as a motor B I, and a reservoir |52 from which hydraulic fluid is pumped and to which it is. returned upon release of the pressure within cylinder 3|. As, indicated diagrammatically in Figure 6, a pressure relief valve 63 is positioned adjacent the outlet 64 of the pump 6B to by-pass further pumping of hydraulic ilu'i'd after a predetermined hydraulic pressure hasv been achieved. The setting of valve 83 may' be adjusted so that a maximum pressure may be established and `automatically maintained between the jaws I0 of the crimping assembly.

Positioned in the uid supply line |1-I-1 between the valve E3 and the' inlet 33 to cylinder 3| is an electrical-ly controlled, two position, three way valve 1U shown in diagrammatic cross-section in Figure 6. Valve T operates vertically in the diagram shown and includes a plunger 1I operating within valve walls 12. In the uppermost position of plunger 1I, inlet 13 from the pump 60 is connected by passage 14 in the plunger 'II to the valve outlet 15 so that hydraulierfluid is supplied from the pump 60, under the control of by-pass valve 63, throughinl'et 13", passage 14 and outlet 15 to the supply line I1 and thence to cylinder 3|. In the lowermost position (not shown)v of plunger 1|"inlet 13 from pump Si) is effectively cut ofi by plunger 1Iv and the supply line I1 is connected by passage 14 (through outlet 15) to' return line 11 leading from valve T0 back to the reservoir 62. Consequently when the plunger 1| of valve 1|lis in its upper position, fluid will be supplied by the pump S0 to' cylinder 3|, but whenthe plunger 1| of' valve 10 is in its lower position, further supply of fluid from pump B0 to cylinder 3| will be cut off and the huid in cylinder V 3| will be forcedou't of the cylinder by the action of spring means 34 Atending topull together the ends'il of -jaws I 0 -andwill'return through supply linev I1 to the reservoir 62. Also, when the plunger. 1| of valve mis in its lower position, the pump 60 may be stopped and, in any event, its output would be by-passed by pressure relief Valve 63 as soon as the maximuml .pressure is attained againstl the closed valve 10.

In the case illustrated-the movement '.of- .the

vplunger 1 I o f the valve13 is controlled by the sole- .nod 84 or other motor means directly or through a known type of linkage. Spring means {i3-is provided to press the plunger 1l back in a, direction opposite to that in which it is urged by action of the motor 84. As shown, the valve is open from the crimper to the reservoir when the solenoid is released and is open from the pump to the crimper when the solenoid is actuated.

The solenoid as shown is controlled by any of several switches. One of these is in each of the handles IB operated by the triggers 66 in the respective handles. Another switch 61, advantageously a microswitch mounted on the side of the crimper where it is engaged by an armattached to the other jaw of the crimper, is actuated to cut off both the motor 6l and the solenoid 84 precisely at the end of the required crimping operation. Instead'of the microswitch 61 on the crimper, or in addition to it, there may also be a switch actuated by pressure in the line i1 so that when the desired maximum crimping pressure is achieved, the current to the motor 6l and the solenoid 84 are thus cut oi.

In place of the counter-balanced suspension shown in Figure 1, the crimping assembly and its mounting may be supported as in Figure 2 on a movable stand composed of telescoping members 8D and 8l adapted for adjusting the height of the stand and a suitable base 82 which may be provided with suitable casters 83 for ready movement into position for operation of the tool.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable tool for applying solderless connectors comprising in combination a supporting ring, a frame mounted to rotate freely within said ring, said frame including a post disposed in diametrcal relation across the opening o f said ring, a U-shaped bracket extending through the opening of said ring and having parallel arms each provided with a longitudinally extending slot having an open forward end, said bracket being supported on and in rocking relation to said post with the rearward closed ends of said slots embracing said post, a pair of levers extending through the opening of said ring and pivotally mounted on said bracket between said arms at the forward 6 open end portions of said slots, said levers having co-operating die-carrying jaws at their forward ends, spring means normally biasing said jaws toward open position, and a cylinder and iiuid actuated piston motor operatively interposed between and supported between rearward end portions of said levers, said cylinder being connected to said post and rotatable thereon coaxially with said bracket.

2. Portable tool according to claim 1 and wherein said spring means includes spring supporting yokes, one engaging a grooved rearward end portion of each of said levers, and tension springs connecting the ends of said yokes.

3. Portable tool according to claim 1 and wherein the cylinder has a lug projecting laterally from an intermediate portion of its wall, and a hole extending transversely through said lug receives said post.

4. PortableI tool according to claim 1 and l wherein said bracket supports laterally extending handles having means for controlling jaw closing movement of said piston while an operator holds the jaws inwork engaging position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 593,064 Albree Nov. 2, 1897 890,108 Van Sickel June 9, 1908 1,166,865 VStone Jan. 4, 1916 1,450,198 Bailey Apr. 3, 1923 1,460,344 Kager June 26, 1923 1,771,523 Bornmann July 29, 1930 1,977,153 Spence Oct. 16, 1934 2,158,855 Eby et al. May 16, 1939 2,182,663 Eby et al Dec. 5, 1939 2,202,724 Bean May 28, 1940 2,208,819 Smith July 23, 1940 2,217,840 Hill Oct. 15, 1940 2,318,023 Strickland May 4, 1943 2,362,776 Spayd Nov. 14, 1944 2,379,180 Pohl June 26, 1945 2,380,974 Kopp Aug. 7, 1945 2,447,155 Brickman Aug. 17, 1948 2,502,288 Streader Mar. 28, 1950 2,530,016 Landis et al. Nov. 14, 1950 2,533,943 Klein Dec. 12, 1950 2,568,054 Clapp Sept. 18, 1951 

